Pak: Bomb kills more than 20 at election rally

Islamabad, A suicide bombing at an election rally in Peshwar of northwestern Pakistan has killed more than 20 people, including a politician, according to the media reports here.

The police said the attack targeted a campaign event organised in the city of Peshawar by the Awami National Party, which has been targeted by Islamist militants in the past over its vocal opposition to extremist groups like the Taliban.

The bombing came hours after the Pakistan military spokesman said there were security threats ahead of national elections scheduled for July 25.

Officials said at least 54 people were wounded.The bombing came hours after the Pakistan military spokesman said there were security threats ahead of national elections scheduled for July 25.

The killed persons included Haroon Bilour, one of the ANP’s election candidates and belonged to an influential political family in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital.His father Bashir Bilour, one of the ANP’s top leaders, was also killed by a suicide bomber in 2012.

“According to our initial investigation, it was a suicide attack and Haroon Bilour… was the target,” a police official told the media.

Police said the bomber struck when Bilour was about to address some 200 supporters.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but there have been dozens of such bombings in recent years in Peshawar.They have often been claimed by the Pakistani Taliban and their allies.